I
know I’m supposed to be looking forward today, but I’m not one for lists or
resolutions. Instead, I let the “ideas”
of what I want to achieve simmer inside.
Most years, I get there, but on my own, without announcements or
outside pressure. I read back to one of
my first posts of 2012 recently and I realized, yes, this year I met my quiet
goals. So now, instead of focusing on
2013, I’d like to look back and express my gratitude to those who helped me do so.
Thanks to Anne Gallagher and Bridget Chicoine, patient readers
of a lousy early draft, both of whom offered astute comments to improve the
story immeasurably.
Thank you to Rachel Harrie at Rach Writes and her campaigner challenge, which delivered a huge confidence booster.
Thank you to the editor of South Shore Living, who offered
me a feature article on the Boston Harbor Islands (print edition!), and accepted
my pitch for another, which will appear in the May 2013 issue.
Thank you to Suzanne (Palmieri) Hayes at The Lost Witch for a creative writing
prompt at The Diary of a Lost Witch that made me remember how much I love pure writing.
Thank you to my local writers group, who continue to impart
insight and confirmation. They keep me optimistic.
Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh, who demonstrates every single
week how important it is to give, and for IWSG, and the vast network of like-minded people out there, all who want to help.
Thank you to Carolina Valdez Miller and her partners at the Kindness Project who remind me to strive to be a better person.
Thank you to Mary Anne O’Hara, a college classmate and
recently published novelist of an amazing book Cascade, who inspired me to try
harder by saying she didn’t want her book to be “a drawer novel.”
Most of all, thank you to my family…my daughter who grows to
be such an amazing young woman, and my wonderful husband, who continues to deliver
patience and encouragement, and now, significant editorial support.
Every year offers tremendous blessings. Here is wishing you all you hope for in 2013.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
